A new coal mine hasn’t been opened in the Sydney basin since 1993 – but that looks set to change with the State government announcing it is seeking interest for a new mining exploration licence for an area just north of Picton. Mines operating in the area typically use the “longwall” method of mining, which create large cavities in the ground and has the potential to pollute the water in Sydney’s catchment area. Tess spoke to Georgina Woods, coordinator at the Lock the Gate Alliance about why the government would bother attempting to open a new coal mine in this contentious time, and how anyone opposed to the mine can register their dissent.